The Wigan-based group behind the Keep Britain Tidy campaign has launched its biggest ever national anti-smoking litter campaign.
With cigarette-related litter on 78% of the country's roads, campaign bosses at Encams have embarked on their most aggressive advertising campaign against people who drop their butts on the streets.
To highlight what has become the country's bigge
st litter problem, the world's biggest cigarette butt was "dumped" in Trafalgar Square this week.
The 30ft giant butt symbolises the problem that is plaguing streets.
According to Encams, we are swimming in a sea of cigarette butts.
And as the number of cigarette ends continues to soar, the group's chief executive, Phil Barton, has gone on the offensive.
He said: "Since the smoking ban was brought in nine months ago, the number of discarded butts on the streets in the North West and throughout the UK has soared.
"We applaud the cigarette ban as it has made our pubs and restaurants more pleasant environments to be in.
"But unfortunately we are now seeing an epidemic of smoking-related litter.
"The message is clear for North West smokers – dumping fag stubs on the ground is disgusting and people responsible will face fines.
"Throughout April local authorities in the North West will step up their efforts to issue on-the-spot fines to smokers who dump their stubs on the streets rather than use bins provided.
"Now is the time for smokers of the North West to change the dirty habit which is staining our streets. We are asking smokers in the region to stop dropping their cig ends."
Thirteen councils from across the country are "campaign partners" who will issue on-the-spot fines.
The full article contains 285 words and appears in Wigan Evening Post newspaper.
